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Pech (pronounced: /pɛpetch[4]) were creatures of elemental earth.[2]

Description[]

They bore a resemblance to gnomes, but had a skin tone that ranged from dark brown and dull grey skin,[2] to pale yellow. Their skin also had a toughness comparable to that of granite. Their eyes were large, lacked pupils,[3] and reflected light like an owl or cat.[2] Their arms and legs were thin and gangly, ending in abnormally large and powerful hands. Their hair tended grow either wiry or as thick manes, the color of wet clay.[2][3]

Personality[]

Pech were typically known to be stoic and reserved.[5]

Biology[]

The large, pupil-less eyes of pech were sensitive to sunlight and could see in both the infrared and ultraviolet spectrums.[3]

Abilities[]

When pechs gathered together, they could mould stone as if it were clay, conjure walls of stone out of thin air, as well as petrify and un-petrify living creatures.[2][3] Though some pechs were known to be powerful enough to perform the first two things on their own, as well as cast the spell stone tell.[3]

Outside of being able to petrify or un-petrify creatures, pechs themselves were entirely immune to the condition.[3]

Combat[]

Pechs were generally known to wield pickaxes and peat hammers in combat. Their expertise in mining made them capable combatants against any stone creature, such as stone golems.[2][3]

History[]

Pech were naturally affiliated with the earth, so much so that they were believed to be natives of the Elemental Plane of Earth.[6]

On one of their adventures, the ranger Drizzt Do'Urden and Belwar Dissengulp encountered a pech who had been polymorphed by an evil wizard into a hook horror. They named him Clacker and together ventured through the Underdark.[7]

Society[]

Pech spent much of their lives mining, filling their homes with a variety of gems. They were also known to form dishes and various ornamental goods out of stone or raw metal.[3]

Outside of mining, they were well known for hunting cockatrices, being immune to their petrifying gaze.[8] They also hunted khargra.[9]

Homelands[]

Their affinity with stone and natural aversion to sunlight made subterranean habitats ideal for them.[2]

Beyond their Elemental Plane of Earth, pech could be found inhabiting the Quasi-Elemental Plane of Minerals.[10][11]

In the Unapproachable East, some pech could be found in the mountains and hills of Rashemen.[12]

Relationships[]

Pech often competed for raw materials in their underground habitats with dao, tomb tappers, and various dwarven races.[13] They traded what they mined with other creatures in return for food or services.[2] They were also known to trade any cockatrices they caught with the svirfneblin.[8]

Countless tribes had fought to remove a colony of neogi that had settled in their home plane, but each time they fell and were eaten.[14]

When not in conflict or trade with another creature, pech generally kept to themselves.[3] Those that lived in the Elemental Plane of Earth sometimes engaged in inter-tribal warfare with the aid of sandmen and earth weirds.[15][16]

Notable Pechs[]

Appendix[]

Appearances[]

References[]

  1. Ari Marmell, C.A. Suleiman, Edward Albert (October 2007). “Iggwilv's Legacy: The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth”. Dungeon #151 (Wizards of the Coast) (151)., p. 24.
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 102. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
  3. 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 99. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
  4. Frank Mentzer (January 1985). “Ay pronunseeAYshun gyd”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #93 (TSR, Inc.), p. 28.
  5. Richard Baker and Robert J. Schwalb (February, 2012). Heroes of the Elemental Chaos. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 150. ISBN 0786959819.
  6. Douglas Niles (1986). Dungeoneer's Survival Guide. (TSR, Inc.), p. 69. ISBN 0-88038-272-4.
  7. R.A. Salvatore (December 1990). Exile. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 14, pp. 175–181. ISBN 0-8803-8920-6.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Ed Greenwood (March 1985). “The Ecology of the Cockatrice”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #95 (TSR, Inc.), p. 24.
  9. Monte Cook, ed. (1998). Monstrous Compendium Planescape Appendix III. Edited by Michele Carter and Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 8. ISBN 0-7869-0751-7.
  10. David "Zeb" Cook (1994). Planescape Campaign Setting, A DM Guide to the Planes. Edited by David Wise. (TSR, Inc), p. 36. ISBN 978-1560768340.
  11. Monte Cook (1996). The Planewalker's Handbook. Edited by Michele Carter. (TSR), p. 29. ISBN 978-0786904600.
  12. Rashemen Encounters Charts included in Anthony Pryor (June 1995). Spellbound. Edited by Michele Carter, Doug Stewart. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 978-0786901395.
  13. Eric L. Boyd (November 1999). Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark. Edited by Jeff Quick. (TSR, Inc.), p. 31. ISBN 0-7869-1509-9.
  14. Monte Cook and William W. Connors (December 7, 1998). The Inner Planes. Edited by Michele Carter and Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 36. ISBN 0-7869-0736-3.
  15. Monte Cook, ed. (1998). Monstrous Compendium Planescape Appendix III. Edited by Michele Carter and Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 9. ISBN 0-7869-0751-7.
  16. Monte Cook and William W. Connors (December 7, 1998). The Inner Planes. Edited by Michele Carter and Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 35. ISBN 0-7869-0736-3.
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